"I don't know where that stems from," Bodie told The Chronicle. "Because my philosophy was to get each and every player as good as they
can be according to their individual skills, and hopefully that would
take them to the next level and ultimately to the big leagues."

Bodie
took that philosophy through a minor league coaching and managing
career that has now spanned three decades. That came after a 10-season playing career. He hasn't seen the majors himself.

Bodie's career in baseball began in 1974, taken by the Mets in the third round of the draft out of South Shore High School in Brooklyn.

Bodie played his first two seasons at rookie Marion. He made AA Jackson
in 1977 and stayed there for three seasons. He moved to the Astros
system and AA Columbus in 1980. He then hit AAA Tucson in 1981. By 1982,
though, he was done as a player.

By 1984, he had started his new career as a minor league coach and manager. He started that year at short-season Auburn. He returned to Columbus as a coach in 1985. In 1986, he got his first managerial job back at Auburn.